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Horse care

Published 15-Sep-2015

Can you give a home to one of World Horse Welfare's loneliest ponies?

By Stephanie Bateman

Equine charity World Horse Welfare highlights horses and ponies who have received few - if any - applications, despite needing loving new homes.

World Horse Welfare's Rehome a Horse Month is in full swing with celebrations of its rehomed horses from the highlands of Scotland to the Cornish coast, but what about the horses and ponies who are still waiting in the charity's four Rescue and Rehoming Centres to find loving new homes?

World Horse Welfare runs the largest equine rehoming scheme of its kind in the UK, with more than 100 horses and ponies of all shapes, sizes, ages, types and capabilities on the scheme at any one time. Rehoming is core to World Horse Welfare's work, giving the horses and ponies who have undergone rehabilitation the chance to reach their full potential and freeing up space in the charity’s Rescue and Rehoming Centres for the thousands of horses in desperate need of care.

Many horses and ponies on the rehoming scheme will find a new home in a matter of a few weeks or months from when they are published on the website, but some struggle to be matched with the perfect home or simply receive no applications at all. Often this can be due to them having more complex needs or as a result of their age (both old and young) or just because the right rehomer has yet to meet them.

Could you offer a home to any of World Horse Welfare’s loneliest horses and ponies? Find out more about them below:

- Norman: Norman is a gorgeous five-year-old Welsh Section A pony standing at 11.2hh who has the potential to make a fantastic carriage driving pony. He was found with a large group of other ponies who were being kept in appalling conditions and has made a great recovery. This cute boy can be shy at first but once he’s bonded he will be your friend for life. He’s been searching for a home since February 2014 and is still waiting to meet the perfect person. Norman is at World Horse Welfare’s Blackpool Rescue and Rehoming Centre, Penny Farm.

- Drifter: Drifter is a very sweet five-year-old cob mare standing at 12.3hh who was found with a group of other horses emaciated and forced to live in a 4ft deep quagmire. She is a sensitive girl but learns very quickly and will always try her hardest. She’s looking for an experienced home where she can continue her education and become a lovely riding pony. Drifter has been looking for a home since February 2014 and has had no recent applications. Drifter is at World Horse Welfare’s Norfolk Rescue and Rehoming Centre, Hall Farm.

- Twizzle: Twizzle is a gentle and caring 12-year-old Thoroughbred mare standing at 15.2hh who came into World Horse Welfare as a welfare case with her best friend, Clyde. Twizzle cannot be ridden so she is looking for a home where she can be a loyal companion to both other horses and her rehomer. She is very maternal and loves to have cuddles but has been looking for a home since March 2014 and has had no recent applications. Twizzle is at World Horse Welfare’s Norfolk Rescue and Rehoming Centre, Hall Farm.

- Laura: Laura is a lovely nine-year-old Welsh pony standing at 14hh who came into World Horse Welfare with a severe skin problem called sweet itch that her owners had left untreated. Laura is a very sensitive girl who is too nervous to be ridden and so is looking for a home as a companion where she can build up a bond with her rehomer and put her trust in them. She has been looking for a home since August 2014 and has had no recent applications. Laura is at World Horse Welfare’s Aberdeenshire Rescue and Rehoming Centre, Belwade Farm.

- Lynbrie Brenhins (Bren): Bren is a stunning three-year-old Welsh pony standing at 12.2hh who is looking for a home as a companion because she cannot be ridden. Bren’s eye-catching good looks are complimented by her sweet nature and she is a great friend to both horses and humans. She could be successful at low level in-hand showing competitions or even horse agility and needs a home where she can reach her potential. She has been looking for a home since late 2014 and has had no recent applications. Bren is at World Horse Welfare’s Somerset Rescue and Rehoming Centre, Glenda Spooner Farm.

- Diamond: Diamond is a pretty two-year-old pony standing at 13hh but still growing! She came into World Horse Welfare as a large welfare case and as she is only a baby she is looking for a home with an experienced rehomer who can continue her education with a view to becoming a wonderful child’s pony when she is mature enough. Diamond has a sweet and loving nature and is very willing to learn. She has been looking for a home since September 2014 and has only had one recent application. Diamond is at World Horse Welfare’s Norfolk Rescue and Rehoming Centre, Hall Farm.

World Horse Welfare marked a 10-year record last year with 300 horses rehomed - and the charity hopes to exceed this number in 2015 with your help. World Horse Welfare Deputy Chief Executive and Head of UK, Tony Tyler, said: “Whilst it’s very encouraging that we’ve seen an overall increase in the number of horses and ponies being rehomed over the last year, ponies like those above indicate just how difficult it can be to find the right rehomers. We’ve had an influx of youngsters at all of our farms who all have amazing potential in the right hands but this relies on people being able to recognise that potential and be willing to put in the hard work to get there.

“The stories of rehomed horses and ponies that we have been celebrating during Rehome a Horse Month show how capable they all are of achieving amazing things whether it’s as a loyal family friend or competition pony. Rehoming a horse from World Horse Welfare is not only incredibly rewarding but it also comes with a host of other benefits such as a full record of the horse’s training and medical history, plus the reassurance that if your circumstances change the horse can always be returned to us to find a new home.”